Disaster Assistance Loans – North Queensland Monsoon Trough, Associated Tropical Cyclone Koji and Severe Weather (Primary Producers)
Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $2 million are available to assist primary producers affected by the North Queensland Monsoon Trough, Associated Tropical Cyclone Koji and Severe Weather, commencing 24 December 2025
Loan features
| Loan amount | Maximum of $2,000,000 |
| Loan term | Up to 10 years |
| Interest rate | View the relevant interest rates for disaster events under the 'defined disaster' description below. These are also available on the Interest rate page. |
| Repayments | If needed, up to two years interest only may be available. |
| Security | A loan under the scheme must be secured by a mortgage of land and other assets satisfactory to QRIDA. |
| Fees | No establishment fees, no account maintenance fees and no fees for early payout. |
What assistance is available?
Concessional loans are provided to assist you to re-establish the normal operations of your primary production enterprise by covering costs such as:
- repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment
- repairing or replacing farm buildings
- purchasing livestock to replace those lost in the disaster event
- meeting carry-on requirements including:
- re-planting, restoring or re-establishing areas affected by the disaster event
- sustenance
- essential property operations
- paying rent and rates.
Individually Disaster Stricken Properties (IDSP)
Primary producers significantly affected during a disaster, but not located in a defined disaster area may be eligible to apply for assistance as an individually disaster-stricken enterprise. In this circumstance, the current commercial lending rate applies unless the concessional interest rate is granted by QRIDA.
To apply on this basis, you should first apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) Certificate through the Department of Primary Industries. For further information please visit the Department of Primary Industries website or call 13 25 23.
Defined disaster areas
The Minister for Fire and Emergency Services has activated disaster assistance for primary producers for the following events:
North Queensland Monsoon Trough, and Flooding Associated Tropical Cyclone Koji and Severe Weather, commencing 24 December 2025
- Barcaldine Regional Council
- Burdekin Shire Council
- Carpentaria Shire Council
- Cassowary Coast Regional Coast
- Central Highlands Regional Council
- Cloncurry Shire Council
- Croydon Shire Council
- Etheridge Shire Council
- Flinders Shire Council
- Isaac Regional Council
- Mackay Regional Council
- McKinlay Shire Council
- Livingstone Shire Council
- Richmond Shire Council
- Whitsunday Regional Council
- Winton Shire Council
Interest rate: 2.14%
Applications close 31 December 2027
If your local government area is not listed please complete the disaster impact survey for primary producers to tell the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) about the impacts of the natural disaster event in your area.
QRIDA administers financial assistance to disaster affected primary producers, businesses and non-profit organisations under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Frequently asked questions
The definition of primary production enterprise has been expanded under the joint Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Primary production enterprise now includes businesses that support primary production, thus the income from those services that support primary production such as harvesting and mustering services.
Other examples include classifications under Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) Division A, Subdivision 05 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Support Services such as: shearing business, mustering business, silage baling business, farm irrigation services, timber plantation maintenance services.
Income from these types of support services will now be considered primary production income for the purposes of determining eligibility as a primary producer under DRFA schemes. See separate FAQ for the definition of a primary producer under DRFA guidelines.
This change has been applied retrospectively to Queensland's 2025 disaster events and going forward for any future disaster events.
Primary producer means:
- a sole trader who spends the majority of their labour on, and derives the majority of their income from a primary production enterprise; or
- in relation to a partnership, company or trust that carries on a primary production enterprise, the partners in the partnership, shareholders in the company or beneficiaries of the trust who spend the majority of their labour on, and derive the majority of their income from, the primary production enterprise.
Call QRIDA on 1800 623 946 for assistance with your loan application. Alternatively, your accountant, bank or financial or business advisor may also be able to assist with your application also.
QRIDA assesses applications based on the future viability of the business with the assistance provided. Security is the second consideration. Preferably security is available over landed assets, however, security over other business assets may be acceptable.
Yes, the cashflow budget template provided by QRIDA is not mandatory. If you have your own cashflow budget template then you are able to provide this to QRIDA as part of your loan application. However, please note that an itemised monthly cashflow is required for all applications, preferably in a financial year (July to June) format.
You are unable to claim the same direct damage expenses via both the Grant and Loan Schemes. However, if the total of your recovery expenditure has exceeded the amount of assistance available via these Schemes, then you can seek loan assistance for the expenses that were not covered by the schemes.
In order to give you the best chance of success, QRIDA needs to understand the historical performance of your business, your current position and your plan moving forward. Without this information, QRIDA would be unable to determine the level of assistance you need and your prospects of returning to a viable business with the assistance provided.
No, reduced profit is not an eligible purpose under the Disaster Assistance Loan.
QRIDA is committed to ensuring due administrative processes are undertaken with the decisioning of applications for Government assistance.
When making decisions on applications, as well as the internal review of a decision, QRIDA follows the QRIDA Decision-Making Policy and Procedure.
You can view this Policy and Procedure on the Reviewing a decision page.
Yes, you are entitled to a decision review. See reviewing a decision for more information.
A Disaster Assistance Loan of up to $2,000,000 is available to assist primary production businesses who have experienced direct damage as a result of the North Queensland Monsoon Trough, Associated Tropical Cyclone Koji, 24 December 2025 – 11 February 2026. This loan can be utilised to fund repair and reinstatement costs for your business, and to meet normal operating expenses that the business is unable to meet due to the impact of the disaster event (e.g. lease payments, property rates, creditors).
An Essential Working Capital (EWC) Loan of up to $100,000 is available to assist primary production businesses who have not experienced direct damage as a result of the disaster event but have experienced a negative impact on their normal business cashflow and are consequently unable to meet normal operating expenses (e.g. lease payments, property rates, wages, creditors). For example, a primary production business may be eligible for an EWC Loan if their farms were not physically impacted by the disaster event however the business suffered a significant loss of income throughout the disaster period. The business may not be able to meet normal operating expenses within its existing credit limits. These requirements over and above your existing credit limits can be met by the EWC loan.
